Magnificent Mile

The Magnificent Mile, in the heart of Chicago and “one of the great avenues of the world,” is a famous section of North Michigan Avenue complete with fabulous shops, restaurants, offices, and hotels. In 1909, city planners envisioned a plan to turn the Indian trading post into a major commercial boulevard. They envisioned, and eventually created, an avenue similar to the Champs Elysees in Paris, which seemingly stretched to infinity. The Mile got its name during a promotional campaign in 1947.

Did you know?

At 1,000 feet, the world’s highest ice skating rink can be found at the John Hancock Observatory.

The Magnificent Mile is home to Chicago’s most celebrated architecture: The Chicago Water Tower, the longest standing structure on Michigan Avenue; the Michigan Avenue Bridge, one of the most photographed bridges in the city of Chicago; as well as the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower, the earliest of the celebrated skyscrapers along The Magnificent Mile.

The lower level facade of the Tribune Tower is embedded with more than 150 stones from landmarks around the world, including the Taj Mahal, the Berlin Wall, the Egyptian pyramids, and the Great Wall of China.